Johns Creek’s girls cross-country team is preparing for its first Class 6A postseason after finishing as the Class 5A state runner-up last fall.

The Gladiators were ranked second in 6A as of Sept. 14, according to a Johns Creek Athletics recap. The school reported the ranking after the girls finished fourth at the Fleet Feet Warpath Invitational, where rain and muddy conditions tested the field.

The meet took place Sept. 12, according to Georgia MileSplit’s regional performance listing.

The school’s recap credited senior Ava Reames with a 10th-place finish in 19:23.52. Tasneem Ahmed placed 18th in 19:55.48, Riley Beaton finished 25th in 20:27.22, Amber Rossi took 34th in 20:46.67 and Molly Lovelace finished 39th in 21:02.10.

A new classification

Johns Creek earned the runner-up trophy at the 2025 Class 5A state championship, according to Georgia MileSplit’s championship recap. Pope won the title.

Both programs now compete in Class 6A. The GHSA’s 2026-27 alignment places Johns Creek in Region 7 with Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell, Gainesville, Lanier and Riverwood. Pope and Creekview compete in Region 6.

Coach Morgan Eurek described the program’s expectations in a Sept. 24 Georgia MileSplit interview.

“The standard of excellence was set on day one in 2009,” Eurek said.

He credited the school’s inaugural team, including standout runner Allie Buchalski, with establishing expectations that continue to shape the girls’ program.

Returning depth

Johns Creek entered the season with a closely grouped returning lineup. Georgia MileSplit’s preseason preview calculated an average of about 19 minutes, 32 seconds for the team’s five leading returnees, with roughly 72 seconds separating the first and fifth runners.

Those returning marks included Reames at 18:50.83, Beaton at 19:20.68, Ahmed at 19:25.49, Hayden Huston at 20:00.06 and Rossi at 20:03.02. The figures reflect previous performances rather than times from a single race this season.

Freshman Isabella Skeens also contributed early. In the school’s season-opening recap, Skeens finished second at the Fowlkes Memorial Invitational in 21:07.78. Ahmed won the race, and Reames finished third as Johns Creek captured the team title.

The school’s cross-country calendar lists sectionals at Foxhall Resort on Saturday, Oct. 31. The GHSA state championships are scheduled for Nov. 6-7.